English verb: apologize | |||
1. | apologize (communication) acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing | ||
Samples | I apologized for being late. He apologized for the many typoes. | ||
Synonyms | apologise | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s that CLAUSE. Somebody ----s to somebody | ||
Entail | acknowledge, admit | ||
2. | apologize (communication) defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning | ||
Samples | Rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior. He rationalized his lack of success. | ||
Synonyms | apologise, excuse, justify, rationalise, rationalize | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | defend, fend for, support | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | color, colour, extenuate, gloss, mitigate, palliate, plead | ||